Severe visual impairment in Swedish children

Abstract

A study of the causes of visual impairment in 515 Swedish children showed a prenatal or perinatal etiology in 90 % of the cases. There were five types of eye affection which accounted for 70 % of all the cases: malformations of the bulbs, cataract, optic nerve atrophy, retrolental fibroplasia and tapetoretinal degenerations. Other handicaps in the children were noted and found to be associated with certain etiological factors also responsible for the eye affection. The cases of rubellar embryopathia and retrolental fibroplasia were discussed especially with regard to the need of preventive measures in the future. The significance of perinatal complications as factors causing visual impairment was discussed.